Tax Ombud Moves to Extend Complaint Services to Market Traders, Rural Communities
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is taking steps to extend its complaint-handling and resolution services to market traders and taxpayers in rural communities through a proposed partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, disclosed this Friday at a town hall meeting attended by representatives of professional bodies, market associations, the private sector, civil society organisations, and the media.
Dr. Nwabueze said the Office was at the verge of formalising the collaboration with NIPOST to make it easier for market traders and taxpayers in rural areas to access its complaint-handling and resolution services.
He reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration, noting that its initiatives were designed to encourage voluntary compliance, facilitate the impartial resolution of complaints, and strengthen confidence between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
According to him, a fair and predictable tax system is essential for economic growth, investor confidence, and improved compliance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), market traders, and the wider business community.
Dr. Nwabueze commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for establishing the Office of the Tax Ombud to provide taxpayers with access to an independent and impartial mechanism for addressing grievances without fear. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Honourable Minister of Finance Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele and other stakeholders to the process
Dr Nwabueze noted that his Office was established to promote consistency, clarity, and respect in the administration of tax and revenue laws.
In explaining the Office’s mandate, Dr. Nwabueze described the Tax Ombud as an independent, impartial, and non-judicial institution mandated to address operational, procedural, and administrative grievances arising from tax and revenue administration.
“Our focus is not only on the rights of taxpayers but also on their responsibilities and those of the relevant authorities. Our services, which are offered free of charge, are designed to resolve disputes, mediate complaints, and promote a transparent, fair, and consistent tax administration system,” he said.
The Tax Ombud clarified that the Office was not established to cancel legitimate tax liabilities simply because taxpayers were unwilling to pay.
“We do not make tax policy. We do not encourage non-compliance, shield taxpayers from their lawful obligations, or perform the functions of the courts. Our role is to facilitate the fair and impartial resolution of eligible complaints within our statutory mandate,” he explained.
Dr. Nwabueze further stated that the Office remained open to collaboration and feedback from stakeholders, pledging to maintain impartiality in handling complaints and address systemic challenges, including inadequate transparency and inefficient grievance-redress mechanisms.
“Our collective objective must be to move from disputes to solutions, from administrative friction to constructive engagement, and from distrust to confidence. We look forward to continued dialogue with stakeholders to build a fair, transparent, and taxpayer-friendly revenue system,” he stated.
Representatives of the Abuja Market, the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), road transport unions, and airline operators commended ongoing tax administration reforms.
They highlighted the need for streamlined administrative processes, clear assessment criteria, and effective channels for resolving disputes. These priorities, they noted, are essential to improving taxpayer confidence and compliance.
The Office of the Tax Ombud reiterated its commitment to working with stakeholders to make complaint-resolution services more accessible, strengthen accountability, and promote a tax and revenue administration system that protects taxpayers’ rights while upholding the lawful powers and responsibilities of revenue authorities.
